Who's hungry?
How about a couple dozen suggestions of places to eat, throughout the state, as chosen by the readers of the Arkansas Times?
Our annual Readers Choice poll is the oldest and most respected restaurant survey in the state (we're celebrating our 30th anniversary this year! See our look back at Readers Choice on page 13).
This year, as we have in recent years, we published a ballot in a weekly paper and also took votes online. Below are this year's winners. As usual, we have winners in a number of categories, plus special votes for the top restaurants in four areas with vibrant restaurant scenes.
Browse through for your favorites and read on for our related features on good eats that follow.
OVERALL
Little Rock
Winner: Trio's
Runners-up: Ashley's, Brave New Restaurant, Faded Rose.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Mike's Place, Conway
Runners-up: Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, Hot Springs; Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant, Eureka Springs; James at the Mill, Johnson.
NEW
Little Rock
Winner: Dugan's Pub
Runners-up: Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro, Terry's the Restaurant.
Around Arkansas
Winner: ZaZa, Conway
Runners-up: Bleu Monkey, Hot Springs; Green Cart Deli, Conway; Hjem Restaurant, Fayetteville.
ITALIAN
Little Rock
Winner: Bruno's
Runners-up: Cafe Prego, Ristorante Capeo, Vesuvio Bistro.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Michelangelo's, Conway
Runners-up: Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, Hot Springs; Ermilio's, Eureka Springs; Pesto Cafe, Fayetteville.
CHINESE
Little Rock
Winner: Fantastic China
Runners-up: Chi's Dimsum and Bistro, Fu Lin, PF Chang's.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Jade China, Conway
Runners-up: Hunan Palace, Hot Springs; Lucky Dragon Cafe, Berryville; Oriental Kitchen, Conway.
JAPANESE
Little Rock
Winner: Sushi Cafe
Runners-up: Benihana, Igibon, Mt. Fuji
Around Arkansas
Winner: Domoyaki, Conway
Runners-up: Fuji Japanese Steakhouse, Fort Smith; Sakura, Sherwood; Shogun Steak House of Japan, Fayetteville.
MEXICAN
Little Rock
Winner: La Hacienda
Runners-up: Cantina Laredo, Casa Manana, Senor Tequila.
Around Arkansas
Winner: La Hacienda, Hot Springs
Runners-up: Casa Colina, Eureka Springs; El Acapulco, Conway; La Huerta, Conway.
OTHER ETHNIC
Little Rock
Winner: Star of India
Runners-up: Cafe Bossa Nova, Layla's, Lily's Dim Sum, Then Some.
Around Arkansas
Winner: New Dehli Cafe, Eureka Springs
Runners-up: Rolando's, Hot Springs; Taste of Thai, Fayetteville; Pho Hoang, Fort Smith.
FOOD TRUCK
Little Rock
Winner: Hot Dog Mike
Runners-up: The Food Truck, Luncheria Mexicana Alicia, Taqueria Jalisco San Juan.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Green Cart Deli, Conway
Runners-up: Rendi's Mudbugs, Hot Springs.
VEGETARIAN
Little Rock
Winner: ZaZa
Runners-up: 4Square Cafe and Gifts; Lily's Dim Sum, Then Some; Whole Foods.
Around Arkansas
Winner: ZaZa, Conway
Runners-up: Annodal's Vegetarian Cafe, Conway; Greenhouse Grille, Fayetteville; New Dehli Cafe, Eureka Springs.
BAKERY
Little Rock
Winner: Community Bakery
Runners-up: Boulevard Bread Co., Panera, Silvek's.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Ed's Custom Bakery, Conway
Runners-up: Klappenbach Bakery, Fordyce; Rick's Bakery, Fayetteville; Serenity Farm Bread, Leslie.
BARBECUE
Little Rock
Winner: Whole Hog
Runners-up: Corky's, Cross-Eyed Pig, Sims.
Around Arkansas
Winner: McClard's, Hot Springs
Runners-up: Craig's, DeValls Bluff; Mean Pig, Cabot; Penguin Ed's Bar-B-Que, Fayetteville.
BREAKFAST
Little Rock
Winner: B-Side
Runners-up: Ashley's, IHOP, Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Mud Street Cafe, Eureka Springs
Runners-up: Home Plate Diner, Bryant; The Old South, Russellville; New Dehli Cafe, Eureka Springs.
BRUNCH
Little Rock
Winner: B-Side
Runners-up: Ashley's, Capi's, Ya Ya's Euro Bistro.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Stoby's, Conway
Runners-up: The Arlington Lobby Cafe, Hot Springs; Michelangelo's, Conway.
CATFISH
Little Rock
Winner: Flying Fish
Runners-up: Adams Catfish Express, Catfish City, Grampa's Catfish House.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Catfish Hole, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Dondie's, Des Arc; Georgetown One Stop, Georgetown; The Fish House, Conway.
FRIED CHICKEN
Little Rock
Winner: Popeye's
Runners-up: Bobby's Country Cookin', Kitchen Express, Your Mama's Good Food.
Around Arkansas
Winner: AQ Chicken, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Holly's Country Cooking, Conway; Chick-a-Dilly, Magnolia; The Venesian Inn, Tonitown.
DELI/GOURMET TO GO
Little Rock
Winner: Jason's Deli
Runners-up: Argenta Grocery, Boulevard Bread Co., Dianne's Gourmet.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Green Cart Deli, Conway
Runners-up: Cafe 1217, Hot Springs; Coursey's, St. Joe; The Gourmet Gallery, Fort Smith.
HAMBURGER
Little Rock
Winner: Buffalo Grill
Runners-up: Arkansas Burger Company, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, The House.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Feltner's Whatta-Burger, Russellville
Runners-up: CJ's Butcher Boy Burgers, Russellville; Cotham's, Scott; Hugo's, Fayetteville.
PIZZA
Little Rock
Winner: Damgoode Pies
Runners-up: American Pie Pizza, U.S. Pizza, ZaZa.
Around Arkansas
Winner: ZaZa, Conway
Runners-up: Larry's Pizza, Bryant; Rod's Pizza Cellar, Hot Springs; U.S. Pizza, Fayetteville.
SEAFOOD
Little Rock
Winner: Cajun's Wharf
Runners-up: Bonefish, Brave New Restaurant, Flying Fish.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Mike's Place, Conway
Runners-up: Cajun Boilers, Hot Springs; Dondie's, Des Arc; Michelangelo's, Conway.
BUFFET
Little Rock
Winner: Franke's Cafeteria
Runners-up: Golden Corral, Panda Garden, Star of India.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Dondie's, Des Arc
Runners-up: Buffet City, Benton; Furr's Fresh Buffet, Fort Smith; Ozark Cafe, Jasper.
STEAK
Little Rock
Winner: Sonny Williams' Steak Room
Runners-up: The Butcher Shop, Doe's, The Faded Rose.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant, Eureka Springs
Runners-up: Doe's, Fayetteville, Mike's Place, Conway, Ruth's Chris, Rogers.
DESSERTS
Little Rock
Winner: Trio's
Runners-up: Community Bakery, Copeland's, Silvek's.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant, Eureka Springs
Runners-up: Ed and Kay's, Benton; Family Pie Shop, DeValls Bluff; Mike's Place, Conway.
COFFEE
Little Rock
Winner: Guillermo's Gourmet Grounds
Runners-up: Boulevard Bread Co., River City Coffee Co., Starbucks.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Common Grounds, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Mud Street Cafe, Eureka Springs; Something Brewing, Conway; Sweet Bay Coffee Co., Fort Smith.
HOME COOKING
Little Rock
Winner: Your Mama's Good Food
Runners-up: Bobby's Country Cookin', Dixie Cafe, Homer's.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Holly's Country Cooking, Conway
Runners-up: Bryce's Cafeteria, Texarkana; Calico County, Fort Smith; Ed and Kay's, Benton.
FUN
Little Rock
Winner: Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro
Runners-up: American Pie Pizza, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Purple Cow.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Green Cart Deli, Conway
Runners-up: Fat Jack's, Texarkana; Mike's Place, Conway; Rolando's, Hot Springs.
PLACE FOR KIDS
Little Rock
Winner: Purple Cow
Runners-up: American Pie Pizza, Playtime Pizza, ZaZa.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Purple Cow, Hot Springs
Runners-up: MarketPlace Grill, Conway; Nickel & Dime Diner, Fort Smith; Playworld Pizza, Conway.
ROMANTIC
Little Rock
Winner: Ashley's
Runners-up: 1620, Brave New Restaurant, Ferneau.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant, Eureka Springs
Runners-up: Belle Arti, Hot Springs; Michelangelo's, Conway; Mike's Place, Conway.
WINE LIST
Little Rock
Winner: Trio's
Runners-up: Ashley's, Ciao Baci, Ferneau.
Around Arkansas
Winner: Michelangelo's, Conway
Runners-up: Bordinos, Fayetteville; Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant, Eureka Springs; James at the Mill, Johnson.
SERVER
Little Rock
Winner: Justin Horton, Capi's and Trio's
Runners-up: Aimee Stockton, Dizzy's; Brent Orlicek, The Faded Rose; Penne McKinnie, American Pie Pizza.
CHEF
Little Rock
Winner: Peter Brave, Brave New Restaurant
Runners-up: Capi Peck, Capi's and Trio's; Donnie Ferneau, Ferneau; Lee Richardson, Ashley's and Capital Bar and Grill.
OTHER CITY BESTS
BENTON/BRYANT
Winner: La Hacienda
Runners-up: Brown's Country Store and Restaurant, Ed and Kay's, Luigi's.
CONWAY
Winner: Mike's Place
Runners-up: Michelangelo's, Stoby's, ZaZa.
EUREKA SPRINGS
Winner: Gaskin's Cabin Restaurant
Runners-up: DeVito's, Ermilo's, New Delhi Cafe.
FAYETTEVILLE AREA
Winner: Theo's
Runners-up: Bordinos, Hugo's, James at the Mill.
HOT SPRINGS AREA
Winner: Rolando's
Runners-up: Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, Fisherman's Wharf, McClard's.
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